Some employers have been offering auto, homeowners and other types of personal property and casualty insurance products to their employees for nearly half a century, but the worksite offerings are really taking off now that employers are broadening their menu of voluntary products to offset reduced health care benefits.

Aon Hewitt has been very active in brokering voluntary auto and home for employers for more than 20 years, but activity in the past five to 10 years has "ratcheted up markedly," says Frank Fimmano, senior vice president in New York City.

"As more employers change from defined benefits to defined contribution, employees have felt more and more disenfranchised, so more employers are looking for things they can do to help employees through voluntary benefits," Fimmano says. "Auto and home fits nearly into that definition, as nearly everyone needs auto or home."